Preserving History, One Gutter Bracket at a Time

Historic preservation is often built on the generosity of people who quietly lend their skills to help protect the places that tell our community's story. This month, the Williams-Boltwood House was fortunate to experience exactly that.

During one of our recent volunteer work parties, we uncovered twelve original wrought-iron gutter brackets that had likely been removed from the house years ago. After spending decades exposed to the elements and buried among debris, the brackets were badly bent and twisted. Although they were no longer usable in their current condition, they represented an important piece of the building's history.

Rather than replacing them with modern hardware, our goal has always been to preserve and reuse as much original material as possible.

On July 1, we brought the brackets to Accufab in Goshen. Russ, one of the company's owners, immediately understood the importance of the project. Over the following week, he and the Accufab team carefully rehabilitated all twelve brackets, completing the work on July 7.

Even more remarkable, they donated all of their time and expertise. The entire project was completed free of charge.

These restored brackets will once again support the gutters on the east side of the Williams-Boltwood House—the side of the building most vulnerable to water infiltration. Reusing the original ironwork not only preserves another authentic feature of this late eighteenth-century building but also helps protect the historic structure from future water damage.

Historic preservation depends on many different kinds of expertise. Carpenters, masons, painters, historians, engineers, and skilled metal fabricators all play an important role in saving historic places. The work completed by Accufab is a perfect example of how modern craftsmanship can help preserve our shared heritage.

Accufab, located on South Main st in Goshen, specializes in custom metal fabrication, including structural steel, railings, spiral staircases, and other custom metal projects. Their willingness to donate their skills to this project demonstrates the kind of community spirit that makes preservation possible.

We extend our sincere thanks to Russ and everyone at Accufab for their outstanding craftsmanship and generosity. Their work has ensured that another original piece of the Williams-Boltwood House will continue serving the building for years to come.

If you have a project that requires expert metal fabrication, we encourage you to support the businesses that support our community. Thank you, Accufab, for helping preserve Goshen's history.